Post here all non technical related topics about Formula One. This includes race results, discussions, testing analysis etc. TV coverage and other personal questions should be in Off topic chat.
Having customer engines from Ferrari has likely been an asset, since Renault has lagged behind in engine development...ahem...finding ways to improve their engine's reliability and lower it's cost. Cough cough made them more powerful cough cough.
But the chassis of the two cars are fairly similar.
I think Vettel is really just that good. He's moving up to RBR next year, but I'd like to see what he can pull off in a really good ride.
Perhaps...but Vettel truly had an advantage nobody else did - clear vision. Bourdais would have had to stick close to Vettel all race long to defend a podium position, which Heikke had enough trouble with.
Webber seems to be able to match or better the pace of the STRs. I think DC is way past it and is trying not to get his pretty face hurt before he quits. RBR is a one car team. STR is almost a one car team too.
The difference is not the engines. It is the prep and setup. Personally I think that 100% of the improvement at STR has come from Giorgio Ascanelli. When Frank Derne returned to Williams mid-season 2003 almost instantly the car became a winner. And now look at what impact Derne is having at Toyota. There is something to be said for sage intuitive veterans. There is now short cut to wisdom and all the computers in the world can't compute you into being wise. Giorgio Ascanelli goes way back and was Berger's race engineer and Senna's too. He worked at Ferrari, Benetton and McLaren. I think the guy knows a few things.
Innovation over refinement is the prefered path to performance. -- Get rid of the dopey regs in F1
I concur, Ascanelli has been a lynchpin to the team, but I also feel those Ferrari engines a bit special.
MOSTLY though i think the team environment is great. I Like boths Sebs, Vettel is fast, talented and has a wicked sence of humour and a really spring in his step, Bourdais has REAL racing pedegree, and F1 experience or not, has experience to give the team. Of course Berger is a real asset too, he's a wieley old fox, AND was a dab hand at the wheel of one of these cars also lets not forget.
STR has the feel of a university to it, a bunch of young and care free guys, who are totally focused on the job at hand when need be. RBR is more like Mclaren, a bit too clinical. And unless you have some real race winning history (like Macca) I can see that as being a bit demoralising.
Silence is golden when you don't know a good answer.
Spencifer_Murphy wrote:STR has the feel of a university to it, a bunch of young and care free guys, who are totally focused on the job at hand when need be. RBR is more like Mclaren, a bit too clinical. And unless you have some real race winning history (like Macca) I can see that as being a bit demoralising.
Are you kidding? Has RBR regressed that far already? Just a short while ago they were the hip youthful team and Uncle David was talking about how freed up he felt, wearing his anti-corporate goatee etc. They have the modern techno/disco "Energy Center" in Pitlane also. And now suddenly RBR are the staid corporate types? Where do you come up with these impressions? RBR has tons of young babes hanging around. I like Bourdais and hope he returns next year but in many ways he is the biggest dead beat party-pooper on the whole F1 grid. Even Rubens is more energetic. RBR too clinical? I have no idea where you get this stuff.
Glad to see you agree on the Ascanelli matter though. But wait, isn't he an "old guy"?
Innovation over refinement is the prefered path to performance. -- Get rid of the dopey regs in F1
I was thinkng... SR is still for sale, isn't it? And with Bourdais and Ferrari engines the price have gone up lately. And no I don't think STR is a one car team at all. Bourdais seems be getting better and better in F1. They could could have two cars on the podium had he started properly, as he wasn't at all bad in the quali.
well Didi Mateschitz gave his first ever TV interview today to Premiere. not his top team won but the junior outfit. what does that tell us? perhaps he should sell Red Bull Racing and keep the Italian Bulls? Berger is streets ahead of Horner in terms of managing an F1 team. he squeezes a lot more performance out of the budget. Red Bull technologies is an independant company that provides the chassis to both teams. so Mateschitz really has the choice and he may go for the proven winners.
if the sale still continues then the present form will not have hurt Gerhards chances. TV money and sponsors dramatically increase when you make it up the food chain to the higher mid field. it needs to be seen what use he will make of the money to hire clever people to design the 2010 car. I believe that he will master that obstacle as well. but all those issues will be small fish compared to the task to find a title sponsor/owner who will spend annually at the magnitude Red Bull was able to spend. This is by far the most critical issue that he faces. I hope it got a bit easier today by seeing his driver stepping up to the highest step of the podium.
Formula One's fundamental ethos is about success coming to those with the most ingenious engineering and best ..............................organization, not to those with the biggest budget. (Dave Richards)
STR is a better balanced car than the RBR car. It just demonstrates what a difference engine balance makes to the performance of, essentially, the same chassis.
The RBR car is still a good car, but the STR is right in the sweet spot at the moment. There could be more podiums for STR this season.
And with Bourdais and Ferrari engines the price have gone up lately. And no I don't think STR is a one car team at all. Bourdais seems be getting better and better in F1. They could could have two cars on the podium had he started properly, as he wasn't at all bad in the quali.
